Wilton Simpson announces interest-free loans for Florida farmers affected by Hurricane Isaias

Tallahassee, Florida – Florida farmers, ranchers and growers whose property was damaged by Hurricane Isaias can now apply for interest-free loans of up to $500,000 to help rebuild their operations, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced.

The assistance is available through the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Eligible producers can use the money to repair, replace or restore essential physical property, including fences, equipment, greenhouses and other buildings. The program also supports debris removal and aquaculture restocking.

For agricultural businesses facing damaged structures and equipment, the loans offer a source of funding to begin recovery work. The announcement focuses on restoring the physical property producers need for their operations, with assistance available to qualifying applicants in 30 Florida counties.

“Delivering immediate financial support to agricultural producers impacted by Hurricane Isaias is a critical first step to get them back on their feet,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “The Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program provides a start with immediate financial relief, ensuring that Florida’s farmers and ranchers begin to rebuild their buildings and infrastructure.”

To qualify under the announcement, the damaged property must be in one of the designated counties. Those counties are Baker, Bay, Calhoun, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Taylor, Walton, Wakulla and Washington.

Producers are being encouraged to document the damage as they prepare for recovery. That includes taking photographs of affected property and keeping receipts for supplies and recovery efforts. These records can help producers maintain a clear account of the storm’s effects and the work undertaken afterward.

The types of property covered by the program reflect several needs across agriculture and aquaculture. Funds may go toward damaged fencing, repairs to greenhouses, replacement of essential equipment or work on other buildings. Removing vegetative debris is another permitted use. For aquaculture producers, the announcement also identifies restocking as an eligible recovery activity.

The maximum loan amount is $500,000 for an eligible producer. The assistance is structured as an interest-free loan, with application information and further program details available through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

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Previous participation does not necessarily rule out another application. Producers who received funding for damage from recent hurricanes may still qualify for help with damage caused by this disaster. However, the program places limits on how often an applicant can receive a loan.

An applicant cannot receive more than one loan for the same storm. The rules also limit applicants to two loans in a single year and five loans during any three-year period. Those restrictions apply alongside the eligibility requirements for the damage covered by the application.

The program’s funding dates to a special legislative session in November 2023. During that session, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 1-C, providing $75 million to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for a revolving loan fund.

That fund was established to help agriculture and aquaculture producers recover from natural disasters. In 2025, lawmakers provided another $40 million for the loan program, bringing the combined funding from those two legislative actions to $115 million.

The newly announced availability gives producers affected by Hurricane Isaias access to that recovery program, subject to its requirements. Farmers, ranchers, growers and aquaculture businesses with damaged property in the listed counties can review the application process through the department.

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More information, including instructions for applying, is available on the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program webpage. Producers can also visit FDACS.gov for information about the department and its services.